FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(March 16, 2009) – (Logan, UT)
BYE BYE BIRDIE – 2009 National Tour
Thursday, April 9 & Friday, April 10 at 7:30pm
at the Ellen Eccles Theatre [Map]
43 South Main, Logan, UT 84321
Age Suitability: 5 & up
CVCA PRESENTS THE 2009 NATIONAL TOUR OF
“BYE BYE BIRDIE”
Book by Michael Stewart | Music by Charles Strouse | Lyrics by Lee Adams
LOGAN, UT — Before High School Musical, before
Grease, There was BYE BYE BIRDIE. BYE BYE BIRDIE,
winner of 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical, will play at the
Cache Valley Center for the Arts on April 9th & 10th at 7:30 p.m.
in the Ellen Eccles Theatre. Tickets for the performance range
from $20-$32 and can be purchased in person at the Cache
Valley Center for the Arts Ticket Office at 43 South Main, online
at www.CenterForTheArts.us or by calling 435-752-0026.
―BYE BYE BIRDIE is the ultimate feel good musical,‖ said
Wally Bloss, executive director for the Cache Valley Center for
the Arts. ―This show is primarily about teenagers but appeals to
both young and old because of our fascination with pop culture,
teen idols, and music icons.‖
Lots of laughs and great songs have made this favorite hit Broadway show one of the most
memorable musicals of all time.
Bye Bye Birdie is a musical comedy loosely based on the life of Elvis Presley. It tells the
story of a rock ‗n‘ roll superstar (Conrad Birdie) who, to the dismay of his adoring fans, is about to
be drafted into the army. Featuring a book by Michael Stewart, music by Charles Strouse, and
lyrics by Lee Adams, comic complications ensue when, as part of one last publicity stunt, Conrad
promises to give a good-bye kiss to one lucky girl from Sweet Apple, Ohio, on the ―Ed Sullivan
Show.‖ This energetic story takes audiences through the everyday life & perspective of all
misunderstood teenagers. Full of nostalgic charm, wit and humor, the upbeat score features ―One
Last Kiss,‖ ―The Telephone Hour,‖ ―A Lot of Livin‘ to Do,‖ ―Put on a Happy Face,‖ and ―Spanish
Rose.‖
Originally Produced by Edward Padula and directed and choreographed by Gower
Champion, the Broadway production opened in 1960. The original cast included Dick Van Dyke,
Chita Rivera, Dick Gautier, Susan Watson, Paul Lynde, Kay Medford and Charles Nelson Reilly.
When the 1950‘s rock star and teenage heartthrob Conrad Birdie gets drafted, the nation‘s
teenagers go haywire and Conrad‘s songwriter, Albert, faces unemployment. So Albert and his
girlfriend organize a nationwide contest in which one lucky all-American girl from Sweet Apple,
Ohio wins a farewell kiss from Conrad on ―The Ed Sullivan Show.‖
Kim McAfee turns out to be the lucky teenager and Conrad‘s whole entourage moves into
her quiet Midwestern home – much to the dismay of her ever-irritable father and her jealous
boyfriend. The results are not quite what the publicist envisioned as mayhem, romantic
complications, and laughter takes over.
The momentous hit tunes include ―Put On A Happy Face‖, ―A Lot of Livin‘To Do‖, ―One Last
Kiss‖, ―One Boy‖, the riotous lament of parents with teenagers ―What‘s The Matter With Kids
Today?‖, and the uproarious salute to the greater glory of Ed Sullivan entitled ―Hymn For A
Sunday Evening!‖. It was a winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical.
The 2009 National Tour debut stars Regina Gatti as Rosie Alvarez and Eli Budwill stars as
Conrad Birdie. This production is produced by Paul Bartz and directed by Paula Hammons Sloan.
Musical Direction is handled by Lee Harris. "Bye Bye Birdie" is based on the book by Michael
Steward, with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams.
The cast of BYE BYE BIRDIE also features Jim Nassef (Hugo Peabody), Mallorie Fletcher
(Doris Macafee), Jonathan Van Dyke (Albert Peterson), Jean Liuzzi (Mae Peterson), Lara Hayjurst
(Kim Macafee), Rockford Sansom (Harry Macafee) and Andy Lott (Randolph Macafee). The
ensemble includes Dave Adamick, Deanna Glover, Jacqeuline Whelan, Tiffany Sparks, Alden
LaPaglia, Timothy Bennett, Christopher Pridemore, Matthew Alexander, Michael LaMasa, Kieron
Cindric, Anthony Fett, Erin Dowling, Will Porter, and Kristen Marie.
WINDWOOD PRODUCTIONS credits include national tours of Little Women, Urban
Cowboy The Musical, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers; The
Unsinkable Molly Brown; Barry Manilow‘s Copacabana; Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). For more information about
Bye Bye Birdie visit www.CacheValleyCenterForTheArts.us.
For Tickets to BYE BYE BIRDIE or show information visit the Cache Valley Center for the
Arts online at www.CenterForTheArts.us or call (435) 752-0026. Tickets are priced at $20, $26,
$27, & $32 and may be ordered & printed online anytime without any additional fees. While at the
CVCA Ticket Office, be sure to get your tickets for the final 2008-2009 CVCA presents production
―The Drowsy Chaperone.‖ This production has only been on tour since 2008 and swept the 2006
Tony Awards taking…
The CVCA Ticket Office is in the Bullen Center at the Cache Valley Center for the Arts
located at 43 South Main. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
and one hour prior to all show times. Parking is available within walking distance of the theatre. A
variety of discounts are available including 50% child discount, 25% USU student discount, and a
15% group discount. For patrons with special needs, the Cache Valley Center for the Arts offers
wheelchair accessible seating, and listening assistive devices. Please identify any needs you may
have when making a reservation. This and other programs are made possible in part by funds
from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation; Marie Eccles Caine Foundation; Cache
County Restaurant/RAPZ Tax Funds, Logan City Cultural Arts Grant; Utah Arts Council; National
Endowment for the Arts; Cache Valley Radio Group – KOOL 103.9; Olson & Hoggan Law Firm;
The Herald Journal.
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Additional contacts:
CVCA Contact: Amanda Castillo, Marketing Director
Cache Valley Center for the Arts: 43 South Main, Logan, UT
Phone Number: 435-753-6518 ext. 15 • Email: ACastillo@CenterForTheArts.us